The Role of System Sciences Research at U-Albany in

Countering Terrorism

David F. Andersen

University at Albany

September 11, 2002

Outline of Remarks

• National Role for Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism

• The Role of the System Sciences in the National Framework

• Some System Sciences Work Here At Albany

Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in

Countering TerrorismNational Research Council ISBN: 0-309-08481-4

• Project of the National Academies of Sciences• Panel Convened in December 2001• Panels from 8 areas working with National Policy

Experts• Report Directed to President Bush• Research to be conducted at Universities and

National Laboratories

Making the Nation SaferTable of Contents

• Nuclear and Radiological Threats

• Human and Agricultural Health Systems

• Toxic Chemicals and Explosive Materials

• Information Technology

• Energy Systems

• Transportation Systems

• Cities and Fixed Infrastructure

Making the Nation SaferTable of Contents (continued)

• The Response of People to Terrorism

• Complex and Interdependent Systems• Cross-Cutting Challenges and Technologies

• Equipping the Federal Government to Counter Terrorism

• Essential Partners in a National Strategy: States and Cities, Industry, and Universities

A Framework for a Systems Approach to Counter Terrorism

Vulnerabilities Created by Interdependent Systems

Homeland Security Systems Organization (HSSO)Provides: Architecture development, interagency and intergovernmental coordination, holistic

systems analysis, systems engineering, model development, etc. HSSO includes analysts, domainexperts and program managers with strong linkages to civilian and defense research communities,

and public and private stakeholder groups.

Intelligence Collection, R

esearch andA

nalysis on Terrorism

Critical Infrastructure D

omains

Electric Po

wer, C

om

mun

ications, Fin

ance, Water reso

urces, Health, etc.

Intergovernmental E

xpertise

Database S

tandards andIntegration

HSSO will address gaps, seams and interactions for knowledge management at all levelsInteragency and O

rganizationalE

xpertise

Risk M

odeling, Assessm

ent andM

anagement

Policy Analysis

Expertise

An Organizational Response to Track System Complexity

Initiatives at the University at Albany

• The Consortium for Human Security--A Multi-Campus Group Taking a Systems View

• System Dynamics Views Aspects of Terrorism as a Feedback Process

• Proposal Development Through the Institute for Informatics, Logics, and Security Studies (http://www.ils.albany.edu/)

Structure and Dynamics of Terrorist Cells

New recruits

Terrorist group Losses

Terrorist actions

Suppression activities

Zeal

Peripheral support

Funding

Martyrs to the cause

(R)

(R)

(B)

(R)

(R)

(R) (B)

(R)

(R)

(Taken from a talk by G.P.Richardson at National Defense Universitynearly 18 months before the 9-11 attacks.)

From Proposal by Institute for Informatics, Logics, and Security Studies (http://www.ils.albany.edu/)

The Role of System Sciences Research at U-Albany

in Countering Terrorism

David F. AndersenSeptember 11, 2002

End of Remarks